Archive for May, 2011

That sucking sound

From Dozer

Some general life-related thingies:

When looking at apartments, the first question I ask myself is “Where would be put the vacuum cleaner?” It’s surprising how often the answer is, “To live here, we would have to get rid of the vacuum cleaner.” It’s not that I’m so enamored of vacuuming, but if you don’t have room to stash a vacuum cleaner, then you don’t have room to stash a body.

No, pretend I didn’t say that. It’s all about the vacuum cleaner. FWOOOOSSSSSSSSSH

I guess “fwoosh” isn’t really a good vacuum cleaner noise. Maybe “VVVVZZZZZZZZZZZZHH”? No. How about “ZHUUUUUUUUUUUUH”?

Some book-related thingies:

I’ve got a couple of book signings next month. I’m also attempting to configure at least one in the LA area and one in Orange County so that I can look you right in the eye when I say, “Yes, I am doing a Southern California book tour.” For now, here’s what I’ve got:

The Yellow Book Road , San Diego
June 23, 1:00pm

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, San Diego
June 25, 2pm
Teens & Tween Summer Reading
Signing along with Cynthia Hand (UNEARTHLY) and Timothy Power (THE BOY WHO HOWLED)

Also, a library event in July:

Santee Public Library

Lunch With Authors (appearing with Kirsten HubbardCindy PonBarrie Summy)
July 5
12:00pm – 1:00pm

Daryl Gregory, who’s a pal and the current focus of my professional jealousy for the work he’s doing writing The Planet of the Apes comic book, posted a luverly review of The Boy at the End of the World.

And here’s a review of Kid vs. Squid from the mom of a six year-old. I love reading about parents and their kids interacting with my books.

The Free Comic Book Day that was

Yesterday was Free Comic Book Day. The first order of Free Comic Book Day was deciding which dorky superhero t-shirt to wear. My current favorite is my distressed Superman tee, but I already wore it Friday. For a moment I contemplated wearing my other distressed Superman tee, and for a more than a single moment I considered wearing my Justice League of America tee, but ultimately I decided to go with Aquaman.

But which Aquaman? The cool black Aquaman t-shirt cut to an athletic fit which, when wrapped around my body, signals very clearly that I am not athletically fit? The orange one, that makes me think of hunters and highway workers? Have I really been going on about this for two paragraphs now?

I like Free Comic Book Day. Not really for the free comic books (I mean, I like free comic books just fine), but for the enthusiasm for storytelling and joyful geekiness. I like seeing fanboys and girls and whole families and especially the little kids who seem to love comics as much as I did when I was seven and picked up my very first comics and was bombarded by cosmically charged comicoid particles.

Not only did I pick up several free comic books, but I bought a bunch too. I’m only about halfway through them. My clear favorite of the lot so far is Captain America/Thor: Mighty Fighting Avengers, a charming, all-ages, team-up story in which Cap and Thor travel back in time and meet not only each other for the first time, but also King Arthur and Sir Gawain.

By the way, I’m just putting this out there: I want to write comics. Someone please hire me to do so. I’ll be saying this in various social media until someone hires me. So, if you want me to shut up about this, you know what to do.

Here’s the scene at the first of our two FCBD stops, Southern California Comics (the second stop being Comickaze).

From Free Comic Book Day 2011

And here’s the haul:

From Free Comic Book Day 2011

Kirkus Reviews likes The Boy at the End of the World

Hey, Kirkus Reviews (self-identified as “The World’s Toughest Book Critics” and known by authors as a source for ouches) likes The Boy at the End of the World:

Part speculative fiction, part cinematic survival adventure, the novel features a brisk pace and clever and snappy dialogue. The real, scary possibility of human destruction of our own environment is tempered by this diverting tale of the possibilities of continued existence and the meaning of hope, friendship and community.

Full review here.